Automatic trolley hoist



A. K. sJoLANDER er AL AMOMATIC TROLLEY H0151' May 22. 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 -ef l 1,597,929 A. K. SJOLANDER ET AL AUTOMATIC TROLLEY HoIsT Aug y 7 shets-sheet 2 I` l 1li l 1 s I 1 1 Filed May, 22,

wb QM *fifa/"22451 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 kw www NBN wb ab mw A. K. SJOLANDER ET AL AUTOMATIC TROLLEY HoIsT Filed May 22. 1925 w wb Aug. 31, 1926.

A. K. sJoLANDER r-:T Al.

' AUTOMATIC TROLLEY HOIST Filed May 22, 1925 7 `Sheets-Shej: 5

Aug. 31, 1926. 1,597,929 A. K. SJOKLANDER El' AL i AUTOMATIC TROLLEY. HoIsT 'l F'iled May 22. 1925 l '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Aug. 3l, i926.

unirse; stares;

traina earner ormoni.

AXEL K. sJoLaNnnR Aun costra nnaesrnoirn er crticaeo, Immers, Assienons,

To inminente coureur, or cis-rence, fintinoisya consona-Tron or :ratiners.

.accionario TROLLEY iiois'r.

Application filed llayY 22, 1925.A Serial No. 32,(l05.

Our invention relates tov anautoniatic trolley hoist which is applicable'for example, to slaughtering house conditions. @ne object is to provide a trolley hoist which shall easily, quickly, and automatically transport from floor to floor orfrom trolley track to trolley track the articles being conveyed along such tracks. Another object is to pro' vide a hoistof the type described in ,which the article conveyed may be received upon and discharged from the same side of the hoist. Another object is a provision of sure and eflicient means for effecting the automatic transfer of the article conveyed from the trolley track to the hoisting conif'eyor and from the hoisting conveyor to the trolley track. Other objects will appear from,

time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

le illustrate our invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying` drawings wherein- Figure l is a vertical sect-ion;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the bottom part of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 5%#8 of Figure l;

Figure ll; is a section on the line l-l of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the conveying carriage and4 the terminus of one of the trolleys;

Figure 6 is `a section on the line 6,-6 of figure l;

Figure 7 Figure l;

Figure S is a side elevation of the top portion of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 9 isa section on the line 9 9V of Figure l;

Figure 'l0 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 9; c

Figure il isla diagram; and

Figure l-is aview somewhat similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form.

Like parts are illustrated by like symbols throughout the specificatiouand drawings.

eferring to Figure l; A, A1, A2, As are the various floors of any suitable warehouse or factory or buildingisinwhich our invention is installed. The upper floors are penetrated 'by theA vertically aligned apertures is a section on the line 7 7 of A4 which serve as an elevator shaft. A5 is any suitable elevator framestructure up wardly penetrating through the shaft ,so formed. At each side thereof arethe pairs of tracks Bland B1., rlhe pair B for eX- ample guide the upwardlyl moving carriage, and the other pair- B1 for example guide the downwardly moving carriage.

Mounted adjacent the bottom of the elevator frame A5 is the shaft B2v rotatable inV the blocks B3 adjustablealong the securing yoke or guide Bt for exampleby the screuT B5.' Wiounted ou the shaft are a pair of i sprockets BG. elevator Astructure is the head shaftiBU which may be driven by anyV suitable set of gears from the power' source B12. B10 carries the sprockets B13. Passing about the sprockets B' and B13 are the chains B11.

`One or both yof the pairs of tracks B1. are

deflected as at top and bottomv as shown at B15 B1G, the distance between the pairs at the point of maximum deflection being sub- Mounted at the top. of the i stantially equal to the diameter of `the y sprockets. rIhe tracks of each pairare liared apart as at B20, the tracks terminatingv at a point adjacentv the location of the of rotation of the shafts B2 and B10. Ver ticallyrinovable along the pairs of 4tracks B and B1 are the conveying carriages C. Each such carriage consists in part of the side frame members C1, in the end sof which are journalled the transverse shafts C2, on the outer ends of which are mounted theV track engaging rollers C3 flanged as at- Ct. Projecting outwardly from the side frame members C1 are the frame or bracket members C5 Vconnected for exampleA by the braces CG. Mounted on the outer ends of the members C5 is the transverse inclined track mem-` ber C7 which, in the form shown in Figure 5 includes a slightly inclined portion CS and a more sharply inclined portion C9. rihe member C7 is cut away at the right end, as

vertically adjustable stop the purpose of,v g

which willlater appear. On the lower floor 1s supported a trolley track D along which are any sultable track engaging members: for

. meat n hooks D4.

example the carriers D1 having pivoted Lthereto the track engagingwheels D2'and Vcushion D18. D9 is an arcuate guide plate.

The arcuate edge is adapted 'to-.be engaged by the slide or channel pin D10 on the track section D7. D12 is any suitableY supporting plate orl structure to Vwhich the stop D8 and the guide plateDQ aresecured. The pivoted track sectionD7 has secu-red to its outer end the plate D15 which is adapted to engagethe transverse pinD16 on the end of the track section C7 of the carriage. Pivoted onthe plate YD12 as vat E1 is-the lever E having an outward roller E2 in line with the'stop C1?. Pivoted to itsl opposite end is the link. 1 3 which in turn is pivoted'as at E4 to the lever E5 :pivot/ed as fat-VEG, to the plate D12. The. opposite arm of 'the lever E5 terminates in the stop or catch E7.

adapted normally toengage the wheel D2, thereb-y preventing the' carrier member-D1 gom sliding downwardly alongthe track Referring to Figures 1,'9 and 10, K K are receiving tracks ron-theupper floors, each having a terminal hinged portion K1 pivoted as at K2. K1 is an angle stop mounted on said portion K1 and is opposed to a stop` K4 having a cushion or face K5.I Thestop K4 is mounted on the bracketK. KS is an arcuate guiding plate,V mounted on the bracket KG, and in general similar to the "alf ready described arcuate. guide D2; Its edge is engaged by the channeled pin K7 onthe track member K1, and thereby prevents lateral movement of the hinged track member. K9 is a block mounted on1 the end ofy the hinged track portion K1, and having a curved outer end adapted to engage a pin H19 on the endof the track member. C7,as shown at the left of Figure 5. vThecnrved end l 11 of the track member C7 is adapted at the same time to engage the curved end K12 of the hinged receiving` track K1.`

Mounted on the elevator `iframe structure' A5 at the opposite side thereof `from the ends of the tracks K are manually operlated* levers G adapted to control the shorter lever arms G1 with the stop rollers G2 at theends thereof. These arms may be set in operative position by being raised to engage any suitable hook or catch G3 mounted adjacent the elevator shaft. G4 is a guide slot in the elevator shaft for the leverG. 'Vhen the lever arm G is raised 'f the ystop roller G2 is aligned with the end of the lever C12.

In the torni shown in Figure 12 provi- 'the vtrack J2.

sion ismade for returning the meat to a bracket H4 depending from the member H. f

Hf is a stop adapted to limit the movement of the track member H2 in response to the thrust of the spring H3. ber H2 is recessed at the 'right end as shown in Figure 12 as'at HG. J .is a stop in the u form of track section pivoted as at J1 to It maybe heldby the pin J3 in the -positionshown in full line in Figure 12er, on withdrawal of the` pin, it maybe rotated out of operative position.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic showing illustratingl the lgeneral location ofthe trolley hoist herein shown in relation to a plant. The track t ysupports the Vcar a which may be used either to bring meat to the plant or to-remove it therefrom. a2 is any suitable conveyor or trolley track adapted for the convenience of the meat as elsewhere shown herein. It extends to the elevator shaft a3 where an elevating conveying installation of the t-ype above described is located. a4 is a typical track located on an upper floor and it will be understood that my invention is applicable to any type of building having any reasonablefnumberl of ioors and any suitable track arrangement on each floor.

It will be realized that whereas we have The track mem shown a practicaland operative installation n' that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of ourinvention andy that the various Aparts and elements may vary in size. number, shape and relation and disposition withoutv departing from the spirit ot our invention.` We wish our drawings and Vdescription to 'be taken therefore as in a broad sense illustrativer rather 'than as limiting `us specifically to anything therein described and shown.

The use and operation of ourrinvention are as follows:

Our trolley conveyor and elevator may be used in any industry wherein articles are conveyed by trolley tracks. 1t is herein illustrated as Vapplied to a packing house, and we illustrate trolleys whichmay carry beeves, quarters of pork or other sections of meat along iiXed suspended tracks. When some such article is being moved along the track for conveyance to an upper floor, it passes therealong until it reaches the hinged track Section D7. Shortly after starting its descent down such downwardly inclined section, as shownin Figure 5, it is caught by the stop on the pivoted lever E5. The conveyor carriage, meanwhile, is preferablybeing constantly driven, without change of direction, at a relatively slow rate, the carriage moving upwardly past the end of the inclined track section D7. Vhen the carriage is in the position shown in Figure 5 it is out of contact with the pivoted track section. As it4 continu-es its relatively slow upward movement the stop C14, which may of course be vertically adjustable, contacts the roller E2 of the lever E. As the ascent of the carriage continues the stop E7 is lifted and finally the trolleyl is released and slides downwardly therealong. The proportion of parts, and the speed of travel of the conveyor are preferably such that the trolley reaches the lower end of the track D7 and the upper end of the track C7 at about the time they are in engagement, or before the carriage has been lifted sufficiently to rotate the track D7 into horizontal position. The decline of the portion CS of the track C7 is sufficient t0 cause the trolley to continue its movement toward the left as shown in Figure l. It is however, stopped by the stop C13, and the carriage continues its upward movement with the meat substantially centrally suspended thereon.

ln the forni shown in Figures l and 5 the meat must be discharged from the opposite side of the carriage, and this discharge is effected for example by setting the lever G in such position that the roller G2 will contact the lever C12 thereby lifting the stop C13, andreleasing the trolley. The parts are so spaced that this relief takes place when the track C7 is in opposition to the hinged ends of one of the tracks K and the trolley simply glides down the track C7 out upon the track K. This' discharge of the trolley is herein shown as effected by manually controlled levers, as shown in FigureV l, except at the upper floor, where a fixed stop is shown as at G10, it being understood that in no ordinary circumstances will it be desirable to have the meat pass upwardly about the sprockets.

In case none of the manual levers G are set to discharge the meat upon an intermediate floor, it will be carried to the top floor,

the carriage raising the hinged ends K1 of the intermediate tracks as it passes upwardly thereby. Vhen the carriage reaches the top floor the fixed stop G10 raises the lever @mand releases the trolley, which thereupon passes to the left uponthe track i, as shown at the top of Figure l.

in the form shown in Figure l2 the trolley may be received from and return to the tracks positioned on the same side of the carriage. Means for discharging the trolley to the carriage are the same as those shown in Figure 5. The track` on thetcarriage however is pivotally mounted and the end H6 is adapted to be engaged by the stop J which, in response tothe upward movement rails mounted at various levels, trolleysl adapted to runv freely therealong, a conveyor carriage, a track thereon and means for moving the carriage to bring it successively into communication with the ends of the fixed rails, and means for transferring the trolleys from the rails to the conveyor oarriage track and from saidtrack section to the rails, comprising in `part-a normally downwardly inclined hinged rail section adapted to bridge the gap between a fixed ra-ilfand the track on the conveyor carriage. Y

A conveyor system for packing houses and the like comprising a plurality of fixed 'rails mounted at various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, a conveyor carriage, a track thereon andmeans for moving the carriage to bring it successively into communication with the ends of the fixed rails, and means for transferring the trolleys from the rails to the conveyor carriage track and from said track section to the rails, comprising in part a normally downwardly inclined hinged rail section adapted to bridge the gap between a fixed rail and thetrack on the conveyor carriage, retaining means, associated with the hinged railed section, adapted to retain the trolleys thereon, and means, operated in response to movement of the conveyor, forreleasing said retaining means when the hinge section is in register with thestrack on the carriage.

3f A conveyor system for packing houses and the like comprising a plurality yof fixed rails mounted at various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, a conveyor f carriage, atrack vthereon and means for moving the carriage to bring it successively into communication with the ends of the fixed rails, and means for transferring the trolleys from the rails to the conveyor carriage track and from said track section to the rails, comprising iii-part a normally downwardly inclined hinged rail section adapted to bridge the gap between a fixed rail and the track on the conveyor carriage, retaining means, associated with the hinged railed section, adapted to retain the trolleys thereon, and means, operated in response to movement of theconveyor, for releasing said retaining means when the hinge section is in register with the track on the carriage, a trolley engaging stop -member associated with the track on the conveyor, and automatic means for releasing said stop to permit the trol ino llO

n the fixed rails.

leys to `leave said track-sectionr andpass lupon riage, comprising 'in part hinged rail Vsections adapted to bridge the gap between the fixed rails-and the carriage, an arresting-means, associated with a hinged krail section, adapted to retain the trolleys thereon,"'and means operated in response to the movement of the carriage, for Areleasing it when lthe hinged section is in register with the carriage, said hinged section being normally downwardlyinclined. f

' 5. A conveyor.syste1nfor packing houses and the like comprising la plurality ofv fixed rails positioned on various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, a conveyor` carriage and means for moving italong a generally vertical path, an 'inclined track section thereon Vadapted to he brought successively into communication with 4the ends ofthe fixed rails and adapted to receive therefrom`r the trolley moving therealo'ng, and means, mounted on said carriage for limiting the movement of said trolleys along the track sect-ion on said carriage. y

6. A conveyor system for packing houses and the like comprising a plurality of fixed rails positioned on various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, a conveyor carriage andlmeansfor moving it along a generally .vertical path, an inclined track:

section thereon adapted to be brought successively into communication with the 'ends rails positioned on various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, aconveyorv carriage and means for moving it along a generally vert-ical path, an Linclined track sectionthereon .adapted to be brought successively into communication with the ends of the fixed rails and adapted to receive therefrom the trolleys moving therealong, and means, mounted on said `carriage foi` limiting the movement ofsaid trolleys along 'the track section on said carriage, said-means being inoperative when Ysaid carriage is aligned with/the track for Vwhich said trol-- ley is"destined, comprising a" stop, `a"st'op controlling lever and a member adapted to engage it in response to movement of 'said carriage. Y v8.ffIn VA'a-conveyor system for packing houses andthe like `comprising a plurality .of-fiXedfrai-ls' positioned on various levels and! trolleys.adaptedto runv freely therealong, la conveyor carriage and means for moving it v'past theY endsv of said rails', an inclinedtrackseeti'onton said carriage adaptedlto receive/from'thev rails vpositioned at one sideof the conveyor the trolleys moving thereon, means for .limiting said "trolleys against movement along l said track during thevertical movement 'of theconveyor carriage intermediate .the various rails, and

c ment offV the conveyor carriage"intermediate thefzvari'ou's rails, and'means for releasing it when sai-d track is aligned with rails at the opposite' side"of said conveyor, comprising a lat'ch lever mounted on said conveyor care riageanctmeans positioned adjacent the path ofz-'saidfcarriage and adapted to contact :said-lever."

10". In,V aUv conveyor' system for packing lrousesfyaidthe,like comprising a plurality ofQfiXedrails! positioned on various levels and trolleys .adapted t'o run freely therealong, awconveyor carriage fand' means for moving it, past the ends ofsaid rails, a track section, pivoted 'on said carriage, adapted to receive from therails'the trolleys moving thereon, said` sectionbeingnormally downwardly -inclined away from the side of the conveyor on which said rails lie.

11.In raf conveyor system` for packing houses .andthe like comprisingv a plurality offfizredVv rails positionedfon various levels and trolleys yadapted to run freely therealong, a'conveyorcarriags's and means for moving; it, past lthefends ofsai'd rails, a`

track section, pivoted on -said carriage, adapted to `receive from the railsthe trolleys moving thereon, said section bein normally downwardly inclined away from the side of the conveyor, on whichk said rails lie, and 'meansfor tilting it into inclination in the opposite directio f i12..In a l conveyor system for ypacking veyQr, and guidiiigmeans'for said,"hingedV rail'A section adapted to liolditj against,latera41'@` 7 conveyor vcarriage, ya track thereonV and Vmeans tor movingtheicarriagev to bring it successively into communication y wit'li".t'lie endsvto;F the iixed rails',and;means vfor trans'-Vl erring the trolleys yfrom 'the V'rails "to they conveyor carriage trackzand i from said track section to the rails,comprising in part a 'nor-` f Am'ally downwardly 'inclined` hingedY rail se'c tionadapted to bridge Vthe gap* between a i iixed rail vandv thetrack on Vthel conveyor carriage, Arail 'section being adapted'to swing upwardly to permitjthe passage' ot the conveyor, and guiding means for V*said hinged rail section adapted to hold' it against lateralv verse shafts at the opposite endsfof the range movement, comprising an arcuate edged plate and yaclianneledfmember lon the rail section adapted to engage the edge thereof.

`2l. A conveyor systenr'for` packing houses and the like, comprising '.'afplu'rality 'of lined rails mounted at lvarious levels,` trolleys adapted to yrunfreely, therealong, af conveyor carriage and means for lifting it along a generally verticalV Ypath comprising transof excursion of said'c'arria'ge, sprockets oni said shafts, rvrchains,.'passing about said i sprockets fand securedY tosaid carriage, means or'rotating *saidk sprockets, generally Y verti-A cally,` disposed Aguide tracks for said Scarriages, hinged track vsections adaptedV to: bridge thegap between the `ends-'ofthe fixedV Y rails and the carriage, and a `trolley receiving support on'the carriage,l ,l ,p 1

l, 22. A,y Yconveyor systei ",.Afor vpacking houses and the like, comprising a plurality of railssuspended on various levels, trolleys adapted'to lmovefreely tlierealong, a conveyor carriage and VaV trolley receiving track thereon, means "for moving said carriager to bring .the tracksuccessively into communication Witlithe'liked rails, afnormally downj' 'i Wardly .inclined movablev "rail" section adapted to bridge; the :gap 'between lfone, of

thellfixed; 4rails vandthetrack'on rthe conf veyor carr1a'geretaining means, associated with. said movable sectiomiand adapted lto retaintheftrolleys thereon, meanspoperativie';

inresponse to movementfol the conveyorfor releasing` l said# retaining means "'wli'en' the movable section is -in registerl with the con;

veyor carriage, to permit` the trolleys'to move outwardly uponf conveyor carriage, retaining means, associated `with 4said carriage, vfor 4normally holding the 'trolleys vagainst .movement therealong, andl means forreleasing said` retainingmeansf 28.V conveyorsystemfor'packing 'houses and the likeycompris'inga rail suspended at to2cominunicationywithr the fixed' rails, a noiV1` gage :ftlielgarcuate edgey thereof, retaining 1"," Senseo: j

one level f :plurality ofr` additional rails? suspendedon' various 'upper levels, trolleysl adapted 'tomove freely alongsaid i'fails,g falv conveyoricarriage."and atrolley receiving member thereon, lmeans 'for moving saidlO trolley to. bring said member successively inf mally downwardly inclinedY movable/'r sectiona'daptedtobridge the gap b'etweer'i` tlieclowestfo'f'said railsfa'nd the carriage', rejf V`tainirfig means associated vwith said movable' sectionfafdap'ted 'to retain the trolleysthere; on', vand means, operativeinresponse'tozthe' movement 'of the conveyor,for"releasing said retaining means when the movable sec``A tion'is'in register with theconveyor foar?. magie?! y Y v ,Y 24E.i A conveyor systeml for vpacking vhouses and-fthe like, comprising a railsusperrdedat l one'level and a plurality 'of additionalrails suspended on 'variousupp'erj levels, trolleys adapted to move freely along said rails, a conveyor Ecarriage and a trolley receivingV memberljthereon, means for moving ks'aicl trolley to "bring saidmember vsuccessively 90' intojcom'munication with the xednrails,'a normally downwardly inclined movable rail sectiomadapted Ito bridgefttliegapv between taining means," associated' with said movable4 section, adaptedwto retain#` the trolleys thereon, and means,"operative" in response totlie ,'movement of tliepconveyor, for revlfeasingfs'aid retaining ymeans when the mov` able 'section is in register vwith the' conveyor orarriage,' and movable track sections' :associatedf'with tliel'rails suspended on the upper levels, aligned' with the carriage and adapted` c to receivej therefrom the trolleys conveyed thereon,"" Wj( 'i 25;l Aconveyor system y for 'packing houses and thelik'e,v comprising 'a rail suspendedat` onevlevelfand a plurality of additionalrails suspended on various upper levels, trolleys adaptedtol'move freel along said'rails, a conveyor carriage an la trolley'l receiving membery thereon, lmeans for moving said trolley to, bringv said member successively intocommunication with/the ixed'rails, a normally downwardly inclined lhinged rail section adapted to bridge the gap between the lowest of said rails' and the carriage, ajn arcuatefguidefior said; hinged Vraill section -and amember on said'v rail adapted `toenL lrnfea'ns,4 associated'fwitli saidv hinged section,

adapted to,v retain" the trolleysll'tliereom,and

means, Vvoperative lin response to,y the: move mentot the conveyor, tori releasing sai'rdlre# taining means when the lhinged sectionv is in register with the conveyor carriage..

. "2.6.` A conveyor system for packing houses andv the like, 'comprising rail suspended at,, OIkleflevel"v anda plurality of additional rails ysuspended.Y on various upper levels, '13

trolleys adapted to move freely along said rails, a conveyor carriage and a trolley receiving member thereon, means `for moving` said trolley tobring said member successively into communication With the lixed rails, a normally downwardly inclined hinged rail section adapted to bridge the gap between the lowest of said rails and the carriage, retaining means, associated with said hinged section adapted to retain the trolleys thereon, and means, operative in response to the movement of the conveyor, for releasing said retaining means when the hinged section is in register with the conveyor carriage, and hinged track sections associated with the rails suspended on the npper levels, aligned with the carriage and adapted to receive therefrom the trolleys conveyed thereon, arcuate guides for the hinged sections and members on said seetions adapted to engage the arcuate edges oi? said guides.

27. A conveying system vfor packing houses and the like, comprising a plurality or' generally horizontally disposed fixed rails positioned at various levels, trolleys adapted to run freely therealong, a conveyor carriage and means for imparting to it a generally continuous movement past the ends of said rails, means for constraining said carriage to generally vertical movement, a trolley receiving track thereon, and means for transferring the trolleys from the rails to the track on the cauiag'e and :trom the carriage to the rails, during' continued movement of the carriage, comprising in part hinged rail sections pivoted to the ends ot' the horizontal rails, and adapted to bridge the gap between the rails and the carriage.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, this 12th day of May, 1925.

AXEL K. SJOLANDER. GUSTA BERGSTROM. 

